March 27, 2012 - Mainichi Daily News -
Decontamination work reduces radiation by over 60 percent in nuclear plant town - Test decontamination work in the Fukushima Prefecture town of Okuma, where part of the crippled Fukushima No. 1 Nuclear Power Plant is located, has reduced radiation dosages by over 60 percent, the Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA) has announced. The results of model decontamination work in 12 municipalities in the prefecture were announced by the central government and the JAEA on March 26. In Okuma, the level of radiation was decreased to around 20 millisieverts per year in some areas -- the government threshold for ordering evacuations. The work covered roughly 209 hectares of land, while the amount of contaminated soil and other materials totaled some 16,000 tons. "Decontamination is the first step toward people returning home, but this result covers only part of an expansive area, so we want to continue these efforts," an agency representative said.
March 27, 2012 - Leadership Magazine - Nuclear power - While the fallout from the nuclear disaster at Fukushima, Japan, in March last year is still felt in many parts around the globe, both in terms of radiation and energy policy, global reaction to it is still more one of moving around the deck chairs rather than any clear re-evaluation of the future of nuclear power generation. How the reaction has developed to date is peppered with ironies. In the absence of a co-ordinated international response, financial and economic considerations clearly still outweigh the dangers associated with the expansion of nuclear power generation in most parts of the world. The initial, most decisive reaction to the triple Japanese disaster (an earth quake followed by a tsunami and then a nuclear reactor meltdown) came form Germany. within days, seven of Germany's older nuclear reactors were shut down. A review of its nuclear policy was also announced. Chancellor Angela Merkel stated plans to replace the remainder of Germany’s nuclear reactors with renewable sources by 2022. A few countries, such as Switzerland, Italy and Belgium, have joined Germany in moving away from nuclear energy. The nuclear industries in Germany and elsewhere, however, still push for the construction of new reactors. This is especially the case in emerging economies, including South Africa. China and India lead the developing nations’ pact, but the nuclear sector regards South Africa as one of the more “promising” markets for expansion.
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